Blessed Are They That Have Not Seen, And Yet Have Believed – Revisited

 John 20:24-29 NIV 

“Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

That would be you and that would be me. Our eyes have not gazed upon the wounds on Jesus’s hands, feet and side, yet we believe. Sometimes having faith is difficult, because of all that we do see around us, because of what we are sometimes called to go through and because of our need for reassurance.

That’s what Thomas needed, reassurance, confirmation that what he was going to believe in, was actually real.

I ran across a Bible verse that stuck in my mind the other day, where in Acts Chapter 3 when the Apostle Peter was addressing the Jews at Solomon’s Colonnade (Solomon’s Porch, Portico or Colonnade was a colonnade, or cloister, located on the eastern side of the Temple’s Outer Court). Peter and John had just healed a man who was lame and who previously asked for money from those who were going into the Temple. The people had gathered around Peter and John because of the healing that had just taken place. And this is part of what Peter said to them in verse 19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord“.

“Times of refreshing”. I’ve experienced many of those, where my fears are laid aside, where the questions and uncertainties that whirl around in my mind are quieted and where I rest in the solitude of His presence. A lot of times these “times of refreshing” come to us while we are in prayer, and sometimes He surprises us out of the blue so to speak, during the singing of a hymn or a special moment just between He and us. Those times are precious, where He speaks to our hearts and lets us know that we are loved and that He is in control.

When doubts knock at my door I remind myself of His Resurrection, of His promise to us that believe, that we too will be resurrected, of the eye witnesses and of their heartfelt testimony. I remind myself of all of the times when I thought there was no way out of what I had gotten myself into, and yet, He has always seen fit to make open a way and get me through, time and time again. And most importantly, I remind myself of the love that has developed between He and I over the years. Considering all the mistakes I have made, considering all my failures, He still meets me and calms my heart. How can we not love Him?

I saw a picture the other day where it shows a woman meeting Jesus for the first time.

The joy shown on her face, the sheer exuberance of being in His presence, welled over me and I thought to myself, my God, that is me. I long to see Him face to face. I long to be home in His arms. I long to be continually in His presence. But not yet …..

There’s so much that I don’t understand, but what is so vital is that through God’s grace, I’ve come to know Him. And the love that He has for me, He also has for you.

Sometimes, when were going through hard times, when we’re not sure how we’re going to make it through another day, the best thing we can do is kneel and open our hearts to Him so that He can do for us, what we in ourselves cannot do, because He is God, our Creator and He loves us.

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!